Is tap water safe in Houtzdale?

EPA SDWIS shows no active health-based violation in this profile's reporting window. That is not the same as proving every contaminant is absent, and federal data can lag state and utility records.

How hard is the water in Houtzdale, PA?

Nearby USGS observations produce an estimate of 47.4 ppm (2.8 grains per gallon), classified as soft. This is not a tap measurement.

Do I need a water softener in ZIP code 16651?

There is no high-hardness trigger in this profile. Confirm conditions with an at-home hardness test before purchasing equipment.

City water profile

Houtzdale water quality

Compare local ZIP estimates, evidence quality, associated public systems, and compliance history for Houtzdale, Pennsylvania.

Median indexed hardness

47PPM

One indexed ZIP

Range 47.4–47.4 PPM

State comparison: 37 PPM below
State hardness rank: #44 of 50
Matched utilities: 1
Active health records: 0

City summary

What the indexed records say

Houtzdale has 1 published ZIP profile across Clearfield County. The indexed median is 47 PPM, compared with 84 PPM across Pennsylvania.

Among the 50 Pennsylvaniacities with an indexed median, Houtzdale ranks #44from highest to lowest. Across all 139 state ZIP profiles, available estimates run from 43to 166.5 PPM.

Because only one ZIP is represented, the city median and range are the same local estimate. It should not be read as multiple independent samples across the community.

Hardness distribution

How local ZIP estimates compare

Soft1 ZIP

Moderately hard0 ZIPs

Hard0 ZIPs

Very hard0 ZIPs

1 of 1 ZIP profiles have a hardness estimate. Bars count ZIP profiles, not households or laboratory samples.

Evidence quality

Distance, dates, and confidence

Median nearest distance: 8.4 miles
Profiles with evidence: 1/1

Confidence labels

High: 0Moderate: 1Low: 0

Observation window: Jan 4, 2016 to Jun 2, 2026.

ZIP directory

Water reports in Houtzdale

Open a ZIP for site-level provenance and measurements.

ZIP code

16651

Soft

47.4 PPM

Nearest site: 8.4 mi
Confidence: Moderate

View full ZIP evidence →

Public water systems

Utilities associated with this city

Houtzdale Municipal Authority

PWSID PA6170023

Surface water

System population served: 8,410
Last reported: Jun 15, 2026

A municipal system, in-state city, and served county all agree with this Census ZCTA.

Compliance history

What EPA records show

No active health-based violation appears among the associated systems in the represented EPA reporting quarter. This does not mean every contaminant was tested at every tap.

Record	System	Period	Status
CARBON, TOTAL	PA6170023	Jul 1, 2025	Resolved
Endothall	PA6170023	Jan 1, 2023	Resolved
Arsenic	PA6170023	Jan 1, 2022	Resolved
Interim Enhanced Surface Water Treatment Rule	PA6170023	Mar 1, 2021	Resolved · health-based

Practical next steps

Move from index to evidence

1. Open your ZIP. Check distance, dates, confidence, and the associated utility.
2. Read the current CCR. Confirm source water, detections, limits, ranges, and notices.
3. Test the tap when needed. Confirm health concerns or treatment sizing with the right method.

Continue comparing

Other Pennsylvania communities

Clearfield

Clearfield County

47 PPM median

Irvona

Clearfield County

57 PPM median

Johnsonburg

Elk County

48 PPM median

Wellsboro

Tioga County

46 PPM median

Blossburg

Tioga County

48 PPM median

Lock Haven

Clinton County

45 PPM median

Search all 50 Pennsylvania cities →

Questions people ask

About water in Houtzdale

Is the water hard?

The indexed city median is 47 PPM. Open the ZIP report to verify the distance and confidence behind that estimate.

Is the tap water safe?

Compliance history is utility-wide and cannot guarantee conditions at every tap. Check current notices and test when address-specific evidence is needed.

Do I need treatment?

Choose treatment only after confirming the problem at the property. A softener targets hardness; contaminant treatment requires a matching, verified performance claim.